Grave-marker.



H. E. KIMBALL.

GRAVE MARKER.

APPLIOATIQN FILED JULY 11, 1913.

1,095,885, Patented May 5, 1914.

Witnsses Inventor by I 7 I 4 I @L r v I Attorneys COLUMBIA FLANDGRAPH 420., WASHINGTON, D. c.

HERBERT E. KIMBALL, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

GRAVE-MARKER.

Specification of Letters ."E'atent.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Application filed July 11, 1913. Serial No. 778,608.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT E. KIMBALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dallas, in the county of Dallas and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Grave-hilarker, of which the. following is specification.

The present invention appertains to a grave marker or cradle, and aims to provide a novel and improved device of that character.

One object of the present invention is to provide a grave marker or cradle which shall eliminate the necessity or use of the ordinary mound, as well as the usual tombstone at the head of the grave.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the nature indicated which may be set over the grave, to surround the same, and which shall be so constructed as to prevent its sinking into the soil, tilting, or being otherwise casually displaced.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a device of the character specified which shall surround the grave, and which shall provide a flower bed over the grave, the device being so constructed as to destroy the grass and other vegetation thereunder, and to prevent grass or other foreign vegetation from finding its way to the flower bed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a grave marker or cradle provided with novel means for holding bouquets.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention has been illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is plan view of the improved grave marker or cradle, the cover or lid of the photograph holder being swung open. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, the cover or lid of the photograph holder being closed. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The body of the impro ed grave marker or cradle is elongated or somewhat elliptical in contour, and its central portion is open, in order that the grave marker 01' cradle may surround a grave, it being understood at the outset, that the present device may be constructed in various sizes to accommodate various sizes of graves.

The body of the marker or cradle e1n bodies an endless inverted channel 1, which is preferably cast from suitable metal having suflicient inherent tenacity or rigidity to withstand the conditions to which the device is subjected. The inverted channel 1 has its back formed with a ridge 2, the outer and inner sides of the ridge being preferably of ogee section, or being of other suitable configuration for purpose of beauty in design or appearance. The channel 1 is filled with concrete 3, or any other plastic filling, which is worked flush with the edges of the flanges of the channel, so as to provide a flat base of relatively large area or width.

At one end, the back of the channel 1 is formed with a rounded portion A over its ridge, the portion A being preferably integral with the channel, and being adapted to receive a suitable inscription plate 5. The inscription plate 5 may be fashioned from aluminium or other wear-resisting material, which may be inscribed in any suitable manner, the inscription plate 5 being preferably in the form of a scroll partly unrolled. The inscription plate 5 is preferably provided at the foot of the grave marker or cradle, while at the other end, the channel is provided with the photograph holder including the hinged cover 12.

The sides of the marker or cradle are equipped with suitable bouquet holders 16, which may be in the form of vases or the like. As illustrated, four of the bouquet holders or vases 16 are employed, two for each side. The bouquet holders or vases 16 are applied to the channel 1 in a peculiar manner. Thus, each of the holders or vases 16 is provided with a lower saddle 17 straddling or sitting astride the ridge 2 of the channel over an aperture provided in the ridge, to prevent the holder 16 from turning or rotating. A bolt 18 is passed upwardly through the ridge of the channel and is inserted into the shank or lower portion of the holder or vase 16, to clamp the saddle 17 over the ridge. It is to be understood that the holders or vases 16 are applied over the ridge of the channel prior to the introduction of the filling 3 into the channel, so that after the filling is inserted to embrace the heads of the bolts 18 fitting within the ridge, it will be impossible to unscrew the bolts 18, and consequently, the bouquet holders or vases will be securely locked to the channel, in order that they may not be removed by malicious persons.

The outer or exposed sides or surfaces of the channel are preferably porcelained or otherwise finished, to imitate marble, stone, or the like, and for the purposes of wear. By finishing the exposed surface of the channel with porcelain, or its equivalent, the channel will be prevented from corroding, and at the same time, the marker or cradle will have the appearance of an ordinary marble cradle, or the like, as prevailing at the present day. If desired, the photograph holder 6 may also be finished similar to the channel, which is also true of the cover or lid 19 for the photograph holder, and the bouquet holders or vases. It is to be understood that the bouquet holders or vases 16 are preferably constructed of suitable metal or other wear-resisting material.

The present device, as a whole, will be of pleasing design or appearance, which is an essential element in a device of this char acter. Furthermore, the present device is peculiarly adapted for the purposes for which it is designed.

In use, the grave is leveled, the mound therefore being eliminated, and the ma ker or cradle is set over the grave properly. The cradle will thus provide a flower bed within the same, the flower bed being on the same level as the surrounding soil. Before setting the cradle in position, the grass or vegetation preferably cut away surrounding the grave, and after the cradle has been positioned, it will be observed that the weight thereof will prevent any vegetation from growing underneath the same, and in Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

this manner, grass and other vegetation will be prevented from growing underneath the cradle to the flower bed. The base of the cradle or marker is relatively wide, or has a comparatively large area, so to sit flatly on the soil surrounding the grave, to prevent the dislodginent of the cradle from its proper or set position. The present cradle may even be employed on sandy soils, without the liability of the cradle sinking into the soil, or tilting, as might be the case if the supporting surface were not of considerable area. The present device may be i11- expensively manufactured, and will provide an elticient and economical substitute for the ordinary marble marker or cradle.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, the other advantages of the present device will be apparent to those versed in the art, it being observed that the objects aimed at have been carried out satisfactorily, and that the present device is a desirable one for the purposes for which it is intended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

In a device of the character described, a grave cradle embodying an inverted channel, the back of which is formed with a longitudinal ridge, the ridge being provided with an aperture, a vase having a lower saddle straddling the said ridge over the aperture, a bolt passed upwardly through the said aperture and threaded into the vase, the head of the bolt fitting within the said ridge, and a plastic filling for the channel embracing the bolt head.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HERBERT E. KIMBALL. l/Vitnesses L. TERRELL, B. H. GRAHAM.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

